Web folding device and method



y 1969 J w. HALLEY WEB FOLDING DEVICE AND METHOD Sheet iled Dec. 8, 1966 INVENTOR.

5 z a m w n 4 w May 6, 1969 J. w. HALLEY WEB FOLDING DEVICE AND METHOD Sheet Filed Dec. 8, 1966 FIG? 5' Jrrozzv y 6, 1969 J w. HALLEY WEB FOLDING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed. Dec.

Sheet 3 of3 J'o/m/ M #444 E) BY I I Z lrrokyz United States Patent O 3,442,504 WEB FOLDING DEVICE AND METHOD John W. Halley, 2042 Evergreen Terrace,

Arlington Heights, II]. 60004 Filed Dec. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 600,231

' Int. Cl. B65h 45/00 US. Cl. 270-86 I Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvement in a forming device for use in folding a moving web along an axis extending in the direction of the movement of said web.

Particular reference is had to a substantially flat V- shaped type of forming or folding device which changes the direction of travel of the web and provides for a converging point upon which the web is folded along an axis extending in the direction of its travel.

There are conventional forming or folding devices having in general the form above indicated. Certain problems are experienced in the use of conventional devices. Problems are experienced in urging folds of the web over the point of the forming device to make a sharp uniform crease in the fold. Gathering of the web and wrinkling and tearing of the web have been experienced at this point. One reason for tearing of the web is that the conventional type of forming device does not provide for a uniform tension upon the web from the top of the forming device to its point, but instead a tension point develops at the point of the device. Air under pressure is conventionally used introduced through apertured flues or passages along the edges of a forming device to form a cushion for the web with respect to the device to prevent ink on the web from smearing onto the device. Here billowing has resulted which also tends to make diflicult a uniform tension upon the web and adds to the increase of tension at the point or apex of the forming device where the crease is formed.

Known reference material consists of Patent No. 3,111,- 310 issued to Dutro, Nov. 19, 1963, PatentNo. 2,023,734 issued to Lamatsch, Dec. 10, 1935, and Patent No. 1,982,- 703 issued to Strain, Dec. 4, 1934. These references show forming devices having nose portions of adifferent side curvature from the sides of the body of the forming device and they show nose portions disposed ina plane having an angular relation to the plane of the surface of the body portion of the device and air under pressure is introduced through apertured tubular edge portions. Here the web is not guided along the nose portion but is urged or'pushed into conformance with the configuration of the nose portion with the result that the crease formed develops wrinkling and flaring. In addition the urging of the web into conformance with the nose portion develops a point of stress or tension which frequently results in the web tearing along the crease formed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a forming device of the type indicated which is particularly adapted to have an even tension on the web the full length of its travel over the forming device to the point thereon at which the fold is made and creased.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ice I physical contact between the web and the forming device.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a forming device having its upper surface disposed in a single plane and have the sides thereof in single planes in converging to form the apex or point of the device.

It isalso an object of this invention to provide upper side edge portions for a forming device such that the web traveling over said device forms a restricted outlet passage at said side edge portions trapping a boundary layer of 'air between the underside of said web and the upper surface of the device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are broken views in side and front elevation respectively;

FIG. 2a is a broken view of a detail of the device on a magnified scale partially in section;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective on an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are broken views in vertical section taken on lines 44 and 5-5 respectively on FIG. 2 as indicated, showing details thereof on a magnified scale;

FIG. 6 is a broken view partially in vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1 as indicated; and FIG. 7 is a view in vertical section on an enlarged scale taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT a web 20. Said shaft will be suitably driven by means not here shown.

Extending between said vertical frame members somewhat below said roller 19 is a supporting bar 22 shown here as an angled member having end plates 22: secured to said frame members by nutted bolts 23. Said bar is pivotally secured to position the side 2212 thereof in a desired plane.

Forming a carriage are vertical aligned longitudinally spaced frame members or posts 28-29 and 30-31. Said members 28-29 support bearing blocks 34-35 respectively at their upper ends between which is journaled a guide roller 36. The members 30-31 support bearing blocks 38-39 between which is journaled a guide roller 40. Said guide rollers 36 and 40 are idler rollers and are parallel to one another. Said bearing blocks are provided with spacing or adjustment screws 42 and 43.

Carried beneath said guide rollers respectively mounted on shafts 46 and 47 journaled between spaced pairs of bearing plates 48 and 50 respectively carried by the frame members 28-29 and 30-31 area plurality of nipper or pull rollers 57 and 58. The inner of said rollers may be idler rollers. Said shafts 46 and 47 will be suitably driven as by a motor 60. The driving linkage will be conventional and is not here shown.

Secured at its upper end portion to the bar 22 is a forming or folding device 65 and this comprises the subject matter of the invention herein. Said device 65 is V-shaped in form having elongated plate-like wing or side members 66 and "67 converging to form an apex or pointed nose portion 68. The upper surface portions 69 and 70 of said side members and the upper surface portion 71 of said nose portion all lie in a common plane. The upper outer on boundary edge portions 74 and 75 of said side members converge in straight lines to meet at the point 77 of said nose portion. Said device 65 may be suitably made of various material, such as of wood, plastic, or metal.

Said side members carry nutted studs 78 at their upper undersides, which studs are disposed through accommodating apertures or slots in the side 22b of said bar 22.

The outer sides of said members will be undercut from the leading edge portions as at 82, as shown in connection with the side member 66.

At its converging or nose point portion 68, said device 65 will be supported by an angled adjusting bar 85 threaded at one end into a tapped recessed cup 87 and secured by a locking nut 88. At its other end, said bar 85 will be threaded into an upstanding plate bracket 90 appropriately secured to said members 28 and 30 and will be secured in position by locking nuts 92.

The point or apex of said device 65 will be disposed between said guide rollers 36 and 40 inwardly therebetween to about the plane of their axes. Preferably said guide rollers will be positioned to be spaced from the adjacent edges of said device by a distance of approximately inch and be 5 inch apart below the point of the apex. As will be described, the guide rollers merely guide the web and do not engage or bind it to the extent of pulling on the same and do not urge the web over the apex of the forming device. The web is drawn over said apex.

The essential elements of novelty in the construction of said device 65 are present in its coplanar upper surface and in its straight line upper outer edge portions 74 and 75 terminating in the point 77 of the nose portion whereby the web is evenly drawn over the apex of the forming device.

Another essential element is present in the treatment of said outer upper edge portions. The edge portion 74 will be described and it is representative of the edge portion 75. At the upper end of the device, the edge portion 74 is formed to have a small radius as on the order of /8 inch, as indicated at 74a in FIGS. 4 and 6. FIG. 4 shows this edge treatment on an enlarged scale. This radius reduces or dwindles in the direction of the point 77. The radius is small at its commencement and approaches knife blade thinness, as at the point 74b with reference to FIG. 5 as taken on FIG. 2. The upper outer side edges of the nose portion for the full extent thereof are virtually knife-like edges.

The angular position of the forming device 65 with respect to the horizontal is an element of importance in providing even tension on the web for its full length of travel over the forming device. With reference to FIG. 3, for uniform tension, the distance of travel indicated by the reference line A determines the angle of elevation and height of the device, at the point as indicated by the reference line B. With this arrangement there will be no tension points developing in the pull of the web. The tension over the face of the forming device, along its edges and along the line defined by the pulling rollers will be uniform. Thus there will be no particular stress at the point 77, but instead a steady evenly distributed pull by the pulling rollers is present resulting in a smooth uniform crease in the web as it is drawn and folded over theapex of the forming device. The rollers 36 and 40 merely guide the web. On conventional forming devices, equivalent rollers are used to urge the web over the point of a forming device by physically engaging the web and deforming it out of the line of travel with a result that stresses are present and wrinkling develops in the crease. Conventional devices dispose the nose portion in a different plane and give it a different angular convergence from what is present in the body of the device. As a result at this point'tears frequently develop in the web. With the forming device herein providing uniform tension, there is no particular stress at the point 77 and the roblems of wrinkling and tearing are avoided.

OPERATION Initially the web will be positioned over the forming device manuallyand with the operation of the machine the web will be drawn or pulled forwardly by the pulling or nipper rollers.

As the web is pulled over the forming device and draped over the sides thereof, it draws an underlying boundary layer or film of air which has a hydrodynamic effect with reference to the upper surface portions 69 and 70 of the forming device. Thus an air film supports the web on said surface portions and insulates the web from actual physical-contact with said surface portions. At the upper portions of the forming device where the outer edge portions have a radius, such as at 74a and 75a, the pressure of the web will cause a lateral displacement of air 'over the outer edge portions of the side members 66 and 67. As the radius tapers to a knife-like edge as at 74b and 75b, the clearance between the web and the edge portion is reduced and the lateral movement of air is restricted resulting in a confined film or cushion of air throughout the surface of the nose portion of the form ing device. This air tends to follow the web over the point 77 and cushions the web with respect to said point. The result is a uniform straight sharp crease as the web is folded.

The passage or flow of boundary air is indicated in FIG. 7. The boundary layer of air forms a uniform cushion and has no tendency to billow the web.

The angular placement of the forming device as above described from its nose point portion between the guide rollers is determined in accordance with the width of the web as draped over the device. Referring to FIG. 3, line A, as shown in dotted line and as indicated by the reference line A, represents the medial line of the surface area over which the web is draped below the device and it is the length of this medial line which determines the angular elevation of the device with reference to the guide rollers, and which determines the height of the forming device as indicated by the reference line B. This reference line indicates the point at which the web commences to drape below the device. With this relationship between web and device there will be uniform tension on the web as drawn over the device.

By having'a coplanar upper surface, straight line edges converging at the point 77 and a tapering radius at each of said edges, said device is particularly constructed and adapted to utilize a boundary layer of air and confine it for a smooth even movement of the web thereover.

The guide rollers at the nose portion of the forming device extend horizontally rearwardly under the device in parallel relation and having a small space therebetween in vertical alignment with the medial line A. There is a straight even tensioned pull throughout the surface of the device, along the medial line A, along the edges of the device and over the point of its nose or apex portion. The pull all emanates from between the guide rollers by the pulling'or nipper rollers. The guide rollers at the noise portion of the device retain the draped portions of 'the web along the edges of the nose portion. It is important to note that no urging of the web against the nose portion is needed as the same plane of travel is followed by the web the full length of the device. The guide rollers merely serve as guides at the point where the crease is formed in the web. Emphasis is also placed on the fact that length of the drape of the web at its longest point from the edge of the forming device to a point between the guide rollers, as indicated by the reference line B, is the same length as that of medial line A. It will be appreciated that the whole arrangement contributes and results in an even tension the full extent of the web over the forming device.

The forming device herein is simple as to its construction, but the details thereof as described herein provide for and have resulted in unusually successful performance and have overcome problem conditions present in the operation of conventional devices.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro portions of the device and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method without departing from the scope of applicants invention which, generally stated, consists in a method and device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, such as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a longitudinal folder having means to support a Web for movement along a path, means to feed the web along said path, a V-shaped folding member disposed along said path such that the sides of said V-shaped member converge in the direction of motion of the web, and a pair of guide rollers disposed at the apex of said V-shaped member, the improvement wherein said V- shaped member comprises a planar upper surface with converging sides of cross-sectional radial dimension, said radial dimension reducing in the direction of the apex of said converging sides, said sides being undercut to form co-planar straight edge portions, the plane of which straight edge portions converges with said planar upper surface at the apex of said V-shaped member.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said radial dimension reduces to a knife-like edge portion at said apex.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,363 7/1894 Marble 270-86 836,751 11/1906 Goss 27086 1,884,783 10/1932 Marcalus 270-86 2,504,502 4/1950 Crafts 270-86 3,269,722 8/1966 Ramsey 270-86 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

P. V, WILLIAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

